Manual injection device

Abstract

A manual injection device having a lower body (1) for a reservoir (S), a piston (P) and a needle (A); a movable upper body (2) including a piston rod (TP); and an actuator sleeve (10) including a contact end (11) and movable relative to the lower body between projecting positions and an actuated position. The actuator sleeve (10) is in a first projecting position before the manual injection device is actuated, and in a second projecting position after it is actuated. The actuator sleeve co-operates with the lower body (1) or with any element secured to the lower body to define a pricking lock. The piston rod (TP) co-operates with the reservoir or with an element secured to the reservoir to define an injection lock. The force for actuating the pricking lock is less than the force for actuating the injection lock, such that the pricking lock is actuated first.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A manual injection device comprising:
 a lower body that receives a reservoir (S), said reservoir being stationary axially relative to said lower body and containing fluid to be injected, said reservoir (S) including a piston (P) and a needle (A); 
 an upper body that is movable axially relative to said lower body during actuation, said upper body including a piston rod (TP) that co-operates with said piston (P) during injection so as to move said piston in the reservoir (S); and 
 an actuator sleeve that includes a contact end for coming into contact with a user's body, said actuator sleeve being movable relative to said lower body between a projecting position in which said actuator sleeve projects, at least in part, out from said lower body, and an actuated position in which said actuator sleeve is moved axially into said lower body, said actuator sleeve being in a first projecting position before the manual injection device has been actuated, and in a second projecting position after the manual injection device has been actuated; 
 wherein said actuator sleeve co-operates with said lower body, or with an element that is secured to said lower body to define a pricking lock, and said piston rod (TP) co-operates with said reservoir (S), or with an element that is secured to said reservoir (S) to define an injection lock, the force necessary for actuating said pricking lock being less than the force necessary for actuating said injection lock, such that said pricking lock is actuated before said injection lock; 
 wherein said piston rod includes a central recess that defines two flexible branches that slope radially away from each other so as to form a radially-outer shoulder on each side of said piston rod; and 
 said radially-outer shoulders co-operate with a radial collar of said reservoir. 
 
     
     
       2. A manual injection device according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said actuator sleeve or said lower body, or any element that is secured to said lower body, includes a flexible tab that is adapted to deform laterally relative to said actuator sleeve and/or relative to said lower body when said actuator sleeve is moved from its first projecting position to its actuated position, and then from its actuated position while returning to its second projecting position, the other of said actuator sleeve and said body, or any element that is secured to said lower body, including an initial zone that co-operates with said flexible tab in said first projecting position, an intermediate zone that co-operates with said flexible tab in said actuated position, and a final reception zone that co-operates with said flexible tab in said second projecting position, said final reception zone being offset, at least laterally, from said initial zone. 
     
     
       3. A manual injection device according to  claim 2 , wherein a deformable axial wall is adapted to deform resiliently so as to allow said flexible tab to pass from said initial zone to said intermediate zone, said deformable axial wall, in its non-deformed position, then being adapted to guide said flexible tab from said intermediate zone to said final reception zone. 
     
     
       4. A manual injection device according to  claim 2 , wherein said final reception zone is connected to said intermediate zone via a final groove, an axial shoulder being provided between said final reception zone and said final groove, said flexible tab being adapted to slide in said final groove when said actuator sleeve returns from its actuated position to its second projecting position, said flexible tab becoming snap-fastened below said axial shoulder when said actuator sleeve reaches its second projecting position after use, thereby locking said actuator sleeve relative to said lower body. 
     
     
       5. A manual injection device according to  claim 1 , wherein said radially-outer shoulders co-operate with an axial flange that is secured to an element that is fastened to said lower body. 
     
     
       6. The manual injection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the element that is secured to said lower body is a reservoir support. 
     
     
       7. The manual injection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the element that is secured to said reservoir is a reservoir support or is said lower body. 
     
     
       8. The manual injection device according to  claim 1 , wherein, before actuation, said piston rod is connected to a ring that is crimped on a radial collar of said reservoir, said ring including a radially-inner projection that, before actuation, co-operates with a groove of said piston rod. 
     
     
       9. A manual injection device comprising:
 a lower body that receives a reservoir, said reservoir being stationary axially relative to said lower body and containing fluid to be injected, said reservoir including a piston and a needle; 
 an upper body that is movable axially relative to said lower body during actuation, said upper body including a piston rod that co-operates with said piston during injection so as to move said piston in the reservoir; and 
 an actuator sleeve that includes a contact end for coming into contact with a user's body, said actuator sleeve being movable relative to said lower body between a projecting position in which said actuator sleeve projects, at least in part, out from said lower body, and an actuated position in which said actuator sleeve is moved axially into said lower body, said actuator sleeve being in a first projecting position before the manual injection device has been actuated, and in a second projecting position after the manual injection device has been actuated; 
 wherein said actuator sleeve co-operates with said lower body, or with an element that is secured to said lower body to define a pricking lock, and said piston rod co-operates with said reservoir, or with an element that is secured to said reservoir to define an injection lock, the force necessary for actuating said pricking lock being less than the force necessary for actuating said injection lock, such that said pricking lock is actuated before said injection lock; 
 wherein said piston rod includes a central recess that defines two flexible branches that slope radially away from each other so as to form a radially-outer shoulder on each side of said piston rod; and 
 wherein each radially-outer shoulder defines an indented profile, said indented profiles receiving a radial projection of an axial flange that is secured to an element that is fastened to said lower body. 
 
     
     
       10. The manual injection device according to  claim 9 , wherein one of said actuator sleeve or said lower body, or any element that is secured to said lower body, includes a flexible tab that is adapted to deform laterally relative to said actuator sleeve and/or relative to said lower body when said actuator sleeve is moved from its first projecting position to its actuated position, and then from its actuated position while returning to its second projecting position, the other of said actuator sleeve and said body, or any element that is secured to said lower body, including an initial zone that co-operates with said flexible tab in said first projecting position, an intermediate zone that co-operates with said flexible tab in said actuated position, and a final reception zone that co-operates with said flexible tab in said second projecting position, said final reception zone being offset, at least laterally, from said initial zone. 
     
     
       11. A manual injection device comprising:
 a lower body that receives a reservoir, said reservoir being stationary axially relative to said lower body and containing fluid to be injected, said reservoir including a piston and a needle; 
 an upper body that is movable axially relative to said lower body during actuation, said upper body including a piston rod that co-operates with said piston during injection so as to move said piston in the reservoir; and 
 an actuator sleeve that includes a contact end for coming into contact with a user's body, said actuator sleeve being movable relative to said lower body between a projecting position in which said actuator sleeve projects, at least in part, out from said lower body, and an actuated position in which said actuator sleeve is moved axially into said lower body, said actuator sleeve being in a first projecting position before the manual injection device has been actuated, and in a second projecting position after the manual injection device has been actuated; 
 wherein said actuator sleeve co-operates with said lower body, or with an element that is secured to said lower body to define a pricking lock, and said piston rod co-operates with said reservoir, or with an element that is secured to said reservoir to define an injection lock, the force necessary for actuating said pricking lock being less than the force necessary for actuating said injection lock, such that said pricking lock is actuated before said injection lock; 
 wherein, before actuation, said piston rod is connected via breakable bridges to an element that is stationary relative to said reservoir; and 
 wherein, before actuation, said piston rod (TP) is connected to a disk that is fastened to said lower body. 
 
     
     
       12. The manual injection device according to  claim 11 , wherein one of said actuator sleeve or said lower body, or any element that is secured to said lower body, includes a flexible tab that is adapted to deform laterally relative to said actuator sleeve and/or relative to said lower body when said actuator sleeve is moved from its first projecting position to its actuated position, and then from its actuated position while returning to its second projecting position, the other of said actuator sleeve and said body, or any element that is secured to said lower body, including an initial zone that co-operates with said flexible tab in said first projecting position, an intermediate zone that co-operates with said flexible tab in said actuated position, and a final reception zone that co-operates with said flexible tab in said second projecting position, said final reception zone being offset, at least laterally, from said initial zone. 
     
     
       13. A manual injection device comprising:
 a lower body that receives a reservoir, said reservoir being stationary axially relative to said lower body and containing fluid to be injected, said reservoir including a piston and a needle; 
 an upper body that is movable axially relative to said lower body during actuation, said upper body including a piston rod that co-operates with said piston during injection so as to move said piston in the reservoir; and 
 an actuator sleeve that includes a contact end for coming into contact with a user's body, said actuator sleeve being movable relative to said lower body between a projecting position in which said actuator sleeve projects, at least in part, out from said lower body, and an actuated position in which said actuator sleeve is moved axially into said lower body, said actuator sleeve being in a first projecting position before the manual injection device has been actuated, and in a second projecting position after the manual injection device has been actuated; 
 wherein said actuator sleeve co-operates with said lower body, or with an element that is secured to said lower body to define a pricking lock, and said piston rod co-operates with said reservoir, or with an element that is secured to said reservoir to define an injection lock, the force necessary for actuating said pricking lock being less than the force necessary for actuating said injection lock, such that said pricking lock is actuated before said injection lock; 
 wherein, before actuation, said piston rod is connected via breakable bridges to an element that is stationary relative to said reservoir; and 
 wherein, before actuation, said piston rod (TP) is connected to a ring that is fastened particular crimped, on a radial collar of said reservoir (S). 
 
     
     
       14. The manual injection device according to  claim 13 , wherein, before actuation, said piston rod is connected to a ring that is crimped on the radial collar of said reservoir. 
     
     
       15. A manual injection device comprising:
 a lower body that receives a reservoir, said reservoir being stationary axially relative to said lower body and containing fluid to be injected, said reservoir including a piston and a needle; 
 an upper body that is movable axially relative to said lower body during actuation, said upper body including a piston rod that co-operates with said piston during injection so as to move said piston in the reservoir; and 
 an actuator sleeve that includes a contact end for coming into contact with a user's body, said actuator sleeve being movable relative to said lower body between a projecting position in which said actuator sleeve projects, at least in part, out from said lower body, and an actuated position in which said actuator sleeve is moved axially into said lower body, said actuator sleeve being in a first projecting position before the manual injection device has been actuated, and in a second projecting position after the manual injection device has been actuated; 
 wherein said actuator sleeve co-operates with said lower body, or with an element that is secured to said lower body to define a pricking lock, and said piston rod co-operates with said reservoir, or with an element that is secured to said reservoir to define an injection lock, the force necessary for actuating said pricking lock being less than the force necessary for actuating said injection lock, such that said pricking lock is actuated before said injection lock; 
 wherein, before actuation, said piston rod (TP) is connected to a ring that is fastened on a radial collar of said reservoir (S), said ring including a radially-inner projection that, before actuation, co-operates with a groove of said piston rod (TP). 
 
     
     
       16. The manual injection device according to  claim 15 , wherein one of said actuator sleeve or said lower body, or any element that is secured to said lower body, includes a flexible tab that is adapted to deform laterally relative to said actuator sleeve and/or relative to said lower body when said actuator sleeve is moved from its first projecting position to its actuated position, and then from its actuated position while returning to its second projecting position, the other of said actuator sleeve and said body, or any element that is secured to said lower body, including an initial zone that co-operates with said flexible tab in said first projecting position, an intermediate zone that co-operates with said flexible tab in said actuated position, and a final reception zone that co-operates with said flexible tab in said second projecting position, said final reception zone being offset, at least laterally, from said initial zone.